Speedrunning Ocarina of Time is nothing new. Different percentages, tricks, requirements; it feels like every single thing in that game has been run through quite hastily. Yet there always seems to be one more thing, and this time it’s beating the Super Smash Bros. Brawl demo of Ocarina of Time in a record-setting score.
First, I want to break down the pieces of this setup. If you’ll remember way back to your Wii days, Super Smash Bros. Brawl had a segment called “Masterpieces” in its menu. Inside was a collection of timed demos designed to give you a taste of specific games so you would want to go buy them on the Virtual Console. One of the games was the treasured classic Ocarina of Time, which featured a five-minute demo with a preset save file. Starting as Adult Link, you essentially start by running out of the Temple of Time like that very first moment after you pull the Master Sword out of its pedestal. But there’s no time to reflect on how crazy Death Mountain looks! Time is ticking away in your limited demo.
Most people, I wager, would just mess around with the Redeads, maybe try and make it to Kakariko Village, or have a bit of fun seeing how far they can run in that time limit. Think you can get to the Deku Tree in time?
And then there are speedrunners.
Never content unless they’re finding new ways to make and break records, one such runner by the name of @Savestate began to dive into the Ocarina of Time Masterpiece to see just what could be done within those five short minutes. It turns out that there’s just enough in the game’s preset save file to allow your typical speedrunning tricks in order to reach the game’s credits before the demo’s timer forces you out to the main screen.
Now, you’ll have to excuse me for not being up to date on all the lingo, methods, and shortcuts. Pardon my ignorance, and instead watch the record-setting marvel for yourself.
Not satisfied with just one record, Savestate also decided to put the smackdown on Ganondorf in the slim demo timeframe for good measure.
It’s incredible the lengths people will go to beat Zelda games, even finding more and more obscure methods and versions to beat. I’m also half surprised that all of Ocarina of Time is just sitting in the Masterpiece segment, but I suppose it’s quicker to slap a timer on the full game than clipping it up to make sure people can’t do certain things. In either case, there are two new records to beat, so get out there and start warping through walls and see some quickie credits!
